Latent profile analysis identifies distinct sleep quality patterns in youth with eating disorders, highlighting heterogeneity

Impaired sleep quality is frequently reported in individuals with eating disorders (EDs), including difficulties with sleep initiation, maintenance, and overall non-restorative sleep. This issue is particularly critical during adolescence and young adulthood, a period of significant neurobiological and emotional vulnerability. Maladaptive eating behaviors common in EDs, such as prolonged fasting or purging, can negatively impact sleep, suggesting a bidirectional relationship influenced by both psychological and neurobiological factors like circadian rhythm regulation and orexin signaling. Understanding specific sleep profiles in this population is crucial for tailored interventions.

This study employed a latent profile analysis to categorize distinct sleep quality patterns within a population of youth diagnosed with eating disorders. The methodology aimed to identify subgroups based on various sleep parameters, moving beyond a general assessment of impaired sleep. By applying this statistical approach, researchers sought to uncover hidden heterogeneity in how sleep disturbances manifest across different individuals within the ED spectrum. The analysis focused on identifying common clusters of sleep-related symptoms to inform more personalized treatment strategies.